Few breaths later, the hall fell into a heavy silence. The weight of anticipation pressed against every elder in the room.
"Patriarch… why did you call an emergency meeting?" an elder asked cautiously.
"Yes… why this sudden summons?" another added, frowning.
"There is a matter of utmost importance that requires your immediate attention," the Patriarch said, his tone grave.
"What is it, Patriarch?" someone pressed, leaning forward.
"Haha… what need do you have for our permission?" an elder scoffed, though a flicker of unease passed across his face.
"My son… Chen Xiao… has been kidnapped," the Patriarch said slowly. "By that brat who calls himself the God of Death. He has demanded a ransom for Chen Xiao's release."
A ripple of shock swept through the room. Even powerful three-star families would hesitate to cross someone like Lin Feng, let alone a two-and-a-half-star family.
"Chen Xiao… kidnapped?!" one elder exclaimed, eyes wide.
"How dare that brat abduct our talented young master!" another shouted.
"He's far too audacious… reckless to the point of courting death," muttered a third.
"Let's kill him and bring Chen Xiao back!" someone roared, slamming a hand against the table.
"The brat is within the Sword Sovereign Sect," the Patriarch said quietly, his voice cutting through the noise. "We cannot act against him directly."
A murmur of concern ran through the assembly.
"That's… a serious problem," an elder admitted. "Patriarch… why did he demand—?"
"Elder, tell them," the Patriarch interrupted, nodding.
The elder bowed and addressed the assembly. "He demands one hundred million purple crystals and fifty Legend-grade demon beast cores within five hours. Only three hours remain."
"What?!" the room erupted.
"One hundred million purple crystals?"
"Does he think Legend-grade demon beast cores grow on trees? Where are we supposed to find fifty of them? Legend beasts are nearly extinct in the Lower Realm!"
"The family treasury… Patriarch, surely you're not serious."
"I know the old stories of reserves kept for centuries," the Patriarch said firmly. "This is not a request. It is an order. We will provide fifty Legend-grade demon beast cores from the family reserve."
"But—"
"No buts. Move at once."
"Yes, Patriarch," the room chorused.
"Fifth Elder, you will deliver the ransom to the Sword Sovereign Sect and retrieve my son."
"Understood."
---
"Boss, I've spread the news. The Chen family should already be aware," Fatty reported, eyes scanning the courtyard.
"Good," Lin Feng said, a faint grin tugging at his lips as he adjusted Chen Xiao so that the young man dangled upside down by his ankle. "They'll regret ever crossing me."
"Lin Feng! Stop this at once! I am the young master of the Chen family! How dare you treat me like this?!" Chen Xiao shouted, flailing.
"See for yourselves—this is the Chen family's young master," Lin Feng said, holding him aloft with ease, the glow of his Xiantian aura barely contained.
"I heard one of their elders has come to pay the ransom," a disciple murmured among the onlookers.
"Let's get to the point," Lin Feng said sharply, his gaze cold as the Chen delegation arrived. "Where's the ransom?"
"How dare you humiliate our young master!" the Fifth Elder snapped, anger radiating off him. Even as a Heaven-grade expert, he trembled under the presence of Lin Feng.
"Where is the ransom?" Lin Feng repeated, his divine sense sweeping the spatial ring with a precise, almost effortless motion.
"It's right here," the Elder said, tossing a spatial ring toward Lin Feng.
Lin Feng caught it, scanning its contents with divine perception. The treasure inside—purple crystals and the demon beast cores—matched the ransom exactly.
"Chen family… punctual, yet predictable," Lin Feng muttered. With a bored flick of his wrist, he released Chen Xiao, who crashed face-first to the ground.
"Damn it," Chen Xiao muttered, groaning.
"Young master… are you all right?" the Fifth Elder asked, rushing to assist him.
"I'm fine… but Lin Feng, I will not forget this," Chen Xiao said through gritted teeth, fury and humiliation intertwining.
"It seems you want me to kidnap you again," Lin Feng said lazily, a faint gleam of amusement in his eyes. "This business… is very lucrative."
Both the Fifth Elder and Chen Xiao twitched at his words. Lin Feng's gaze lingered on Chen Xiao briefly, as if assessing him for some unknown reason.
"Forget it. He's a Legend-grade expert; not worth my trouble. I'll find another young master to ransom," Lin Feng added casually, as if tossing aside an inconvenient object.
"Chen Xiao… let's go. Now," the Fifth Elder said, motioning for retreat.
As they withdrew, Fatty nudged Lin Feng. "Boss… should we look for other young masters from powerful families to ransom?"
Lin Feng's grin widened. "Hahaha… I already have someone in mind."
"Who?"
"The young master of the Ouyang family," Lim Feng said with a sly smirk.